Kindle

[NeverEnder]

I just got an Amazon Kindle E-reader!

Now I will be able to return to my passion of reading.

It has been months and months of no reading. This will give me an excuse to ease back into it, finally.

-Matthew-

 

[Pedro]

I'm very interested in getting an e-reader. Can you tell why you chose Kindle? What made you choose it over an iPad?

 

[. . .]

I'm very interested in getting an e-reader. Can you tell why you chose Kindle? What made you choose it over an iPad?

There are E-reader comparisons here. The Kindle 3 is the highest-rated E-reader on there.

After reading countless amounts of reviews on E-readers, the Kindle definitely sounds the most promising. I want to get one eventually.

 

[kasmanaft08]

I can't decide if I want one.

One one level, I've always wanted a classic library in my house. I like the old skool quality of reading and flipping through an actual book. The second part is having to charge something in order to read. And the third, which is generally untrue but I can't be convinced somehow, is that it would be awkward for my eyes. I was really passionate about all of these. And I still am.

Until I had to pack and move overseas, and realized what kind of shipping costs I was looking at, and how I had to cart around a pile of books as a carry on for a massive flight.

Then I saw the point.

 

[Pedro]

There are E-reader comparisons here. The Kindle 3 is the highest-rated E-reader on there.

After reading countless amounts of reviews on E-readers, the Kindle definitely sounds the most promising. I want to get one eventually.

Thanks, Aillas. That website is nice, but the iPad wasn't mentioned. I guess it wasn't considered an e-reader. Since I can use it as an e-reader, downloading books from Amazon even, and for browsing the web, I'm more inclined to purchase one. I still haven't made my mind yet because I've read that Kindle's e-ink is unmatched by iPad regarding comfort while reading, which is the main use I'll have for the gadget. In my opinion Kindle DX looks awesome. I like big screens, although I have no idea how big it is. I can't visualize anything. hah

 

[. . .]

Since I can use it as an e-reader, downloading books from Amazon even, and for browsing the web, I'm more inclined to purchase one.

You can do all of that stuff with a Kindle. People who live in North America can even browse the net for an unlimited amount of time for free with a Kindle. Unfortunately you don't live in North America, so you wouldn't be able to do that, but still . . .

If I was planning to get an E-reader I wouldn't care about extra features like web browsing, etc. since you can already do all of that stuff with a computer. I'd just get a device that would allow me to read E-books effectively.

But to be honest with you I don't even know WTF an iPad even is. I hear about them on a near-daily basis and still haven't bothered reading about them. Perhaps you would be better off getting an iPad, but I can't be certain until I read about them.

 

[. . .]

One one level, I've always wanted a classic library in my house. I like the old skool quality of reading and flipping through an actual book.

Old fart.

I'd personally much prefer to hold a light device in my hand than hold an unwieldy book (lots of books I read are huge).

The second part is having to charge something in order to read.

The battery in a Kindle lasts 30 hours and takes only two hours to charge. Just charge it when the "Battery low" message shows up.

And the third, which is generally untrue but I can't be convinced somehow, is that it would be awkward for my eyes.

It just isn't possible for the new E-reader devices to be awkward for your eyes.

-------------------------------------

If I had an E-reader the main things that would bother is how I wouldn't be able to read obscure books on it (lots of the books I read can't be obtained legally or even illegally in E-book formats due to being quite rare) or books with lots of illustrations in them since E-book formats usually don't contain images. I can't even imagine reading the Carl Sagan books Cosmos or Pale Blue Dot, which are heavily illustrated, on an E-reader. The books wouldn't suck without the images, but they'd certainly be a lot less good; the illustrations in those books are very essential.

 

[Pedro]

Unfortunately you don't live in North America

Now, that was funny. Someday, I'll escape into civilization...

If I was planning to get an E-reader I wouldn't care about extra features like web browsing, etc. since you can already do all of that stuff with a computer. I'd just get a device that would allow me to read E-books effectively.

But to be honest with you I don't even know WTF an iPad even is. I hear about them on a near-daily basis and still haven't bothered reading about them. Perhaps you would be better off getting an iPad, but I can't be certain until I read about them.

I know what you mean. The thing is: if I'll be carrying around an e-reader why not have it connected to the web as well!? My brother-in-law just traveled around Florida with his iPad as a GPS. Other than that, the only time I saw an iPad, it was used to read magazines, books and to play a game in which you're supposed to beat up a cat.

 

[epath13]

I've got iPad and did download Kindle app in addition to iBooks app. I do like reading on it more than on paper primarily because I can change background tone and size of the text, and in iBooks there's a few options of font as well. Some fonts make reading difficult for me, so it's great if I can change to something plain. Even though I still buy books, have no clue why

Hope your Kindle will help you to get your passion for reading back, NeverEnder.

 

[IContainMultitudes]

Until I had to pack and move overseas, and realized what kind of shipping costs I was looking at, and how I had to cart around a pile of books as a carry on for a massive flight.

Then I saw the point.

It's occurred to me that that's one reason why e-book readers can be handy for some people. I'm not looking forward to having to decide which books in my collection to take with me and which ones I can bear to sell/donate the next time I make a major move (thankfully, a lot of them are miscellaneous paperback novels and other things I'm not really that attached to). I think having some of my books in ebook form will make that process a little easier.

I've mainly been using mine to read non-fiction books (including some on AS) that I'm probably only going to read once that I couldn't find at the libary. I kind of like the idea of not having to stick another physical book on my already-crowded shelves when it's something like that. I also like being able to read free samples of Kindle books on Amazon. I've read a couple of novels on my Kindle, but I really prefer reading them the old-fashioned way.

Of course, another nice thing about e-book readers is that they let you be a little more private about what you're reading than traditional books if that's a concern for you (being on the spectrum is something I stay fairly private about, so I don't really want to advertise that I'm reading books on AS).

 

[kasmanaft08]

Of course, another nice thing about e-book readers is that they let you be a little more private about what you're reading than traditional books if that's a concern for you (being on the spectrum is something I stay fairly private about, so I don't really want to advertise that I'm reading books on AS).

That is a good point actually. I didn't even consider it.

Something I should have actually considered when I took a Human Sexuality class, and realized some books and studying should be left to the home and not your local Starbucks.

 

[IContainMultitudes]

One slight problem I just encountered with my Kindle is that the plastic covering on the USB/charging cable just started crumbling and peeling off, probably rendering it unsafe to use. :S Oh well, the replacement cables aren't very expensive (I'm looking at one right now that's only about $3 w/free shipping), if you only have to replace it every two years or so, I guess that's not too bad.

UPDATE: I got my replacement synch/charging cable for my Kindle in the mail today, and it seems perfectly ok so far for a $3 cable. It's not the same kind that my Kindle came with (I think it's a little shorter for one thing), but it seems to get the job done (I was able to save the little AC adapter that came with the old cable and use it with the new one). Maybe it will be a little more durable than the old cable (which did last nearly two years, after all).

 

[Gomendosi]

As another person who has lived a life in the eventual hope of owning a house to house a personal library (and giant leather armchair and roaring fire), may I just say that while they are a lovely idea, the electronic reader will never replace the book so don't worry. Having worked most recently in a second hand book store this was a constant topic on the punters minds and it couldn't eventuate is the unanimous decision, they are great, yes. But; A Book is a book is A Book! ; ]

 

[King_Oni]

I don't own a kindle, but in general the entire "brands" thing doesn't do that much for me. Granted, reviews state that the Kindle is a good device, I'm fine with any tablet/reader in general. I do own a small android tablet (7 inch) and I use that for reading epub & pdf files. Perhaps a Kindle does read some other formats mine can't, but then again, I don't even have an amazon account, let alone buy books there.

I can however say that me having a tablet now is a reason I actually read more. I don't care that much for physical books... a. they're expensive, b. they take up too much room, c. I don't like paper in general; but that's a it of the "it takes too much room) and d. most books I've read recently aren't available in stores in my area that easily.